St. John the Beloved Independent Catholic Church
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WHO ARE WE?
Saint John the Beloved Independent Catholic Church is a Mission Parish in the Archdiocese of Providence in The Church of All Saints and All Souls (CASAS), which is a community of Christians comprising an autocephalous (i.e. independent and self-governing) Catholic Church. Primate-Archbishop Roland Louis Salvador founded the Church of All Saints and All Souls on November 1, 2001. Previously, Archbishop Salvador was the American Metropolitan Archbishop for the Catholic Charismatic Church of Canada and the United States. CASAS was founded as a response to statements in the Post-Conciliar Reports of Vatican Council II inviting new Rites and Patriarchates. The Church of All Saints and All Souls was conceived as such a venture, a progressive yet conservative Communion, a new stem sprouting from the root of the Roman Catholic Church. It was in this light that Archbishop Salvador founded CASAS,"to assist the Roman Church in its mission as a supplemental rite." Archbishop Salvador, with his Presbyteral Council, made our submission to Rome and the Holy Father is considered the First among Equals, and as such, the temporal head of the Church. We are united to the True Church of Christ, "by the bonds constituted by the Profession of Faith, the Sacraments, Ecclesiastical government and communion. We are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ, Who rules through the Supreme Pontiff and the Bishops." (Lumen Gentium 14). Though we enjoy this bond of fraternity we are not in full communion with Rome in the strictest sense. The Church of All Saints and All Souls observes the practices and teachings of the Latin Rite. CASAS celebrates complete and true valid and licit lines of Apostolic Succession, the Seven Sacraments and full Liturgical Worship consistent with the Roman Catholic Church. It is Archbishop Salvador's intent to adhere to the Dogmas and Doctrines of true Apostolic teaching.Originally, during the first generations of Christianity, all local churches were independent and there was no central governing organization. These local communities were ministered to by what we would, today, call bishops and deacons. The rank of priest only began to emerge and differentiate from that of bishop later, during the mid-second century, as the Church expanded from the cities to the rural areas.Beginning in the second Century, with the spread of Christianity into the rural areas outside the cities, and particularly after the devolution of the presbyter (i.e. priest) from the Order of Bishop, local churches began to be grouped together to permit better organization and supervision of orthodoxy. Parishes began to be led by priests. Bishops became heads of regions called diocese and bishops of cities, called a Metropolitan, or an Archbishop, supervised, but did not rule over or govern, the nearby rural diocese. Diocesan Bishops were completely autonomous in their own diocese so long as they remained true to the Faith. All were organized under the leadership of some principal bishop called a Patriarch who headed the most important dioceses in the world. In ancient times the Patriarchs were the Bishops of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, and Constantinople. Each were equal in rank, prestige, and authority; though particular honor was given to the Patriarchs of Rome and Constantinople as their Sees were the seats of Imperial Roman Government. Today, the Patriarch of Rome, also know as the Patriarch of the West, is also called the Pope. The Patriarch of Constantinople, called the Ecumenical Patriarch, is the leader of all Eastern Orthodox Churches, a title of honor not of governance, except within his own Greek Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Churches, perhaps, better known as the Greek Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, etc., continue to follow the model of the Patriarch leader as a "first among equals" today. Local Bishops and Metropolitan's have autonomy and are answerable to their "Synod of Bishops" rather than to the Patriarch in matters of orthodoxy and discipline. Though they employ a liturgy which is very different from that used in the West, they are none the less Catholic, and of ancient and Apostolic origin. There are many Catholic Churches, which, today, belong to the Orthodox family. Many have a national or ethnic character. All are completely self-governing. Some, such as the Russian Orthodox Church, have their own Patriarch. Each shares a communion with the other Churches of Orthodoxy. Though formed at different times, all are said to have entered schism, i.e. severed relations, with Rome in 1054 in response to un-historical assertions of Papal Authority. PLEASE VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITE AT: www.OurChurch.com/member/v/Victories
ARE YOU CALLED?
Like the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches; The Church of All Saints and All Souls or "CASAS", is an independent or autocephalous part of the "...one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church". Autocephalous literally means, "having its own head" and is best defined as "self governing". The Church is one because it is one with its founder, Jesus Christ and, in His Mystical Body, is one with all believers. The Church is holy because Christ is Holy and sanctifies the Church by His continuing Presence in the Sacraments and His Word. The Church is catholic both because, as a member of Christ's mystical body, it is universal; and because it consciously links itself to the Traditions and practices of the historic Church. The Church is Apostolic because it is linked to the faith, teachings, and authority of the Apostles, both Sacramentally and historically, through the Apostolic Succession of the Bishops and Clergy. CASAS welcomes all people, regardless of their marital status or sexual orientation, to participation in the life and Sacraments of the Church; asking only moral conduct which is appropriate for all Christians. The call to be a Christian entails moral and ethical behavior, which flows from a conscience, informed by prayer and study. While it is not the function of the Church to be judgmental regarding the conduct of individual members, this lack should not be seen as affirming immoral conduct of any kind, but is a recognition that we are incompetent and unworthy to judge another. It is, rather, the Church's function to offer instruction and guidance in a Christian way of life so that those whom He calls may lead lives in imitation of Christ out of Love for God and not from fear of damnation nor from censure by their sisters and brothers (cf. Matthew 7:1-5; John 8:7, et al.). In keeping with the ancient traditions of the early Church, CASAS does not impose mandatory celibacy on its clergy. Each candidate for the Holy Orders of Deacon and Presbyter will be required to complete a rigorous program of preparation. This preparation will include required study in Holy Scripture, Sacramental, Moral, and Systematic Theology, Christology, Church history, Pastoral Care, etc. It will also require extensive supervised ministry and personal spiritual development of the candidate. Administration of this program of preparation is in coordination with the candidate's Diocesan Bishop. This is not a degree program, but serves solely to prepare CASAS clergy candidates for ordained ministry in CASAS. CASAS does not have a residential seminary program at this time. 1. Candidates for Deacon must be at least 18 years old 2. Candidates for Presbyter (priest) must be at least 25 years old, have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Order of Deacon and have received the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. 3. Candidates for the Episcopacy (Bishop) must be at least 35 years old, have been a priest for at least 5 years, and a pastor of a CASAS parish for at least one year. Bishops must also be elected to the Episcopacy by a vote of the CASAS College of Bishops. Incardinating bishops require a one year probationary period prior to incardination during which time they will minister as presbyters with temporary faculties. At the conclusion of the probationary period they must be incardinated by a unanimous vote of the College of Bishops. Applicants for Holy Orders can expect to spend considerable time in preparation for ordination to facilitate both factual and academic training, and mutual discernment of the true Will of God for the candidate. The actual amount of time of preparation for each candidate is in the discretion of the Diocesan Bishop having jurisdiction and will be influenced by a variety of factors. While recognizing that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to each according to the Spirit's Will, it is, nevertheless, the duty of the Church to discern the Will of the Spirit for those who may seek service to God through ordination. Thus ordination to the Sacrament of Holy Orders is not a right that one receives by virtue of being a member of the Church, nor is it given to everyone who asks for it. Rather, it is a privileged gift of the Holy Spirit given on an individual basis (cf. 1 Corinthians 12, et al.). If you feel that Almighty God has called you to Holy Orders.....CALL OR E-MAIL US FOR A CONFIDENTIAL INTERVIEW. May God Bless You! Father Joe McMenamin, Archdiocesan Vocations Director
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